Panaji, June 4 (TNN): Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has condoled the tragic death of Union minister for rural development Gopinath Munde, describing it as an irreparable loss to Goa, Maharashtra and the country. Parrikar also announced one day's state mourning on Tuesday for the deceased BJP leader.
Speaking to media persons at the BJP office, Parrikar likened the untimely death of Munde to the tragic demise of his own cabinet minister Matanhy Saldanha shortly after being sworn into the cabinet. "This is a tragic coincidence. Everything is a repetition of Goa. We got a complete majority and then lost Matanhy. The same has happened at the Centre," Parrikar said.
He said that Munde was a "guiding force" for Goa. He recalled how Munde used his negotiating skills to firm up a tottering alliance of the Goa BJP with Goa's regional party, MGP, in the run-up to the assembly elections. Parrikar said Goa always relied on Munde's intervention at any forum at the Centre and with the BJP national leadership in times of need.
Parrikar recollected how when the local BJP unit had to convince an unrelenting Pramod Mahajan, they would approach Mahajan through Munde (his brother-in-law).
The chief minister offered flowers to a large portrait of Munde at the BJP office. Others who offered flowers included BJP state vice-president Wilfred Mesquita and other party functionaries.